The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-08-16
A BACHELORS REWARD
1t Came to Him After Twenty
Years of Waiting.

1t was q cold January day. John
Steele sat alone in his office in the
midst of a deep reverie.
1t was seldom that he was idle, a:
he was at the present time, but this
evening the memories of the past came
flocking upon him like ghosts from an
other land.
John Steele was bachelor of forty.
He had been born and reared a poor
boy, in the little town of M, and
had never felt q desire to leave il. He
had studied law and plodded along
year after year in the dingy. grimy
Office, in which we find him now, and
had grown rich. He had no personal
friends, and lived alone in large. old
frame house at the outskirts of the
town, with man servant as cook and
general man-of-all-work.
Years and years before, when a young
man of twenty, poor and aimless.
Steele had loved a girl whose parents
would not let her marry him because
he was SO worthless. In his rage he
blamed her for this and would listen to
no reason, and from that day had hated
women and had led solitary life.
1t was this scene that now held John
Steele in his Office chair, as the mantle
of night gathered over the town.
more than twenty years ago." he
unused, sand I don't believe L have
ever spoken to woman, except on
business, since that day. They say she
married no-account wretch after all,
who has sunk down to poverty and
want Well, well, 1 must not waste
time thinking about such things now.
was only a boy then, and did not
know what 1 wanted. l must be GO
ing" Whereupon he arose, buttoned
his coat about him. locked his office
and trudged on his homeward jour-
ney.
Rumor had it about town that, al
though by her parents influence. Katie
Drew had married shortly after her re-
fusal of Steele, that she loved him dear
ly. This was most likely true, but as
twenty years had passed, the matter
had faded from the general mind to
give way to more lively gossip.
Steele ate his supper in silence. Will
liam, his man-of-all-work, had very
good meal prepared; for. though Steele
was close-fsted, be believed in good
eating. good clothes and comfortable
living.
Now, William" said Steele, when
he had finished, ''if you fix me up
enough food to do me tomorrow, you
may have holiday. And here is your
money and five dollars to have time
with. No holiday for me: don't need
any and don't want any"
Thank you, Mr.. Steele, for your
goodness" said William. 'But, Mr..
Steele, don't you never take any little
extra pleasure at all? You know i
used to know you when you was lit
tie fellow; and / can remember seeing
your good mother holding you up at
the old church so you could see the
Christmas tree. And You was wee
little tad then, and you clapped your
little hands in glee and your mother
would kiss your baby face and talk
baby-talk to you. 1t don't seem like
that was near forty years ago, Mr..
Steele, but it was"
''Confound the fellow" grumbled
Steele, as he sat down in his room that
night to read. IF l should listen to
him he would upset me. don't know
what is the matter with me this even
ing anyhow. never felt so queer in
my life. / guess / am using too much
tobacco of late"
He read until bedtime, and was in
the act of taking off his boots. when he
heard knock at the front door,
Wonder who that isl he thought.
Something unusual at this place"
He listened moment and there
came another knock.
what the deuce can that William
be doing that he don't 90 to the door?"
said Steele. II want to 90 to bed, and
it may be some one that wants me. To
borrow money. guess. Well, unless
they have good security. not cent do
they get"
At this juncture. William opened
the door. Steele heard an indistinct
conversation and then William con.
Quoted the visitor to the kitchen. After
some moments William came walking
! into the room.
''Well. what is it?''
Excuse me, Mr.. Steele. put there
is poor woman i'm the kitchen who
needs some help badly. I'm sure she
does. for she don't look as common